As cultural institutions, museums embody the values of their communities and reflect society in a myriad ways. Museums range in size, collection focus and purpose, yet all museums are bound by the same principle of care, preservation, and interpretation of their objects. They have been founded for a variety of reasons including as recreational spaces, academic venues, or scholarly resources; to promote civic pride or nationalistic endeavour; to support the work of professional museum personnel; and to transmit overtly ideological concepts.
Museums can be built in historic sites, within existing buildings, or specifically designed for their collections. Some charge to enter, others are free. They may be operated by government or council, or privately funded.
The word museum has its origins in the 17th century when it was used to describe collections of curiosities – Ole Worm’s cabinet in Copenhagen and John Tradescant’s collection in Lambeth, London, were among the first examples. By the end of that century, collections had begun to be grouped together under one name and a building constructed for their display. During this time the concept of the museum began to be developed and professional bodies formed.
Today’s major international museum organizations offer some definitions of a museum and while there are differences between them they all emphasize the public good, preservation and interpretation of collections. Museums are also recognised as important community-builders and provide a space for people to come together, interact with each other and learn about their surroundings.
Some museums have very few artifacts or do not call themselves museums, instead focusing on education, for example Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, but others such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum use many artifacts to create powerful and memorable exhibitions.
There are over 6000 museums in the world and most of them are run by private individuals or corporations. A smaller number are owned by governments. Often museums are free to enter, but there are some which charge. Generally larger public and council run museums charge more to enter than independent museums.
Unlike other tourist attractions, most museums are not open all the time and most have opening hours which are published on their website. Most museums are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and on certain religious holidays.
Some museums have permanent collections which are always on show and can be visited at any time. Other museums have temporary exhibitions which change regularly. This allows them to cater for different interests and to keep their visitors coming back. In addition to the exhibitions, museums have research and conservation departments which maintain their objects in the best possible condition for their display. They also provide educational services and offer a variety of tours to school groups. Museums can be located in cities, towns and villages, rural areas and even some remote islands. They can be found in all countries of the world and are an essential part of a well-rounded cultural experience.